Knee pad serving as a cushioning and protective device



Oct. 17, 1967 T. N. ZIRVES 3,346,877

KNEE PAD SERVING AS A CUSHIONING AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1965 IN vs NTOR; WEODORE N.Z|R\/E5 United States Patent Ofifice 3,346,877 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 3,346,877 KNEE PAD SERVING AS A CUSHIONING AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE Theodore N. Zirves, 8849 N. Overhill, Niles, Ill. 60648 Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,921 Claims. (Cl. 2-24) ABSTRACT ()F THE DICLOSURE In this specification regarding knee pads, the gist of the technical disclosure resides in the use of integrally formed elastic projections or hands stretchable laterally from two opposite sides of the body of the knee pad, having fastening means at the free end of the bands for attachment to a part of the trouser leg on opposite sides under tension of the elastic bands. The pads are thus held securely in place without the need for separately afiixed straps which completely surround the wearers leg.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in knee pads which serve as a cushioning and protective device for the knee, lower leg, and that portion of the clothing over which the pads are worn.

Knee pads are commonly worn by workmen whose occupations require a substantial amount of kneeling on the floor or ground. Many of the present type of knee pads are fastened and held in place by straps which completely surround the leg. The straps must be drawn fairly tight to hold the knee pad in place when standing erect. When the leg is bent in kneeling position the straps are drawn even tighter, causing discomfort and interfering with normal blood circulation in the leg.

It is an object of this invention to overcome that difficulty by providing fastening and holding devices which eliminate the need for straps that completely surround the leg. Elastic bands attached to the knee pad are provided with fastening devices that can be easily fastened to the trouser leg to hold the knee pad in the desired location. The elastic bands do not surround the leg and thus do not cause discomfort and interference with circulation of the blood.

It is another object of the invention to provide a knee pad that is quickly attachable and removable and does not require buckling and unbuckling of the various straps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a knee pad that does not have any metal or other hard parts (such as snaps, buckles, clips, etc.) located near the knee when the knee pad is in place. This avoids the danger of injury or discomfort due to accidental kneeling on a metal clip or buckle or other hard part which frequently happens with other types of knee pads having clips, buckles, and other hard portions of the fastening devices located near or on the body of the knee pad itself.

An object of the invention is also to fasten the bands or straps to the knee pad by attachment means of soft or resilient material, such as fabric, rubber, plastic, leather or other similar types of material sewn or bonded to, or formed as a part of, the knee pad itself or the covering thereof in such a way that it cannot cut into, cause discomfort or injury to the knee if inadvertently kneeling on the attachment means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knee pad whose attachement bands or straps are elastic and retract into close proximity to the perimeter of the knee pad when detached. This avoids the unsightly appearance of straps hanging loose and enables more attractive advertising and sales display. It also eliminates the problem of loose straps becoming entangled, and facilitates attachment by the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knee pad for attachment to a trouser leg without any special device permanently affixed to the trouser leg to receive the knee pad, such as pockets, rivets, pins, snap fasteners, buttons etc. sewn thereon.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a knee pad that may be drawn tightly against the knee or leg of a wearer to avoid the annoyance and discomfort of flapping back and forth as well as up and down of the knee pad when walking which occurs in other types of knee pads, and yet the invention accomplishes this result without having straps tightly surround the leg of the wearer so as to cut off or interfere with circulation of the blood. In this invention, elastic bands with appropriate fastening devices are provided that may be stretched to draw the knee pad as tightly as desired against the trouser leg and knee of the wearer when in standing position, and the fastening devices may then be attached to the trouser leg to firmly hold the knee pad tightly against the knee. The pressure against the back part of the leg of the wearer is thus from the back portion of the trouser leg rather than from a surrounding strap, which results in much Wider distribution of the equivalent amount ofpressure over a greater area of the leg of the wearer to greatly minimize discomfort and to avoid interference with circulation of the blood by cutting off flow of blood in an artery or vein which can readily happen with narrow straps drawn tight. It is obvious that a separate piece of cloth or other material could be wrapped around, or partially around, the leg of a wearer for the purpose of attaching the fastening devices thereto rather than to the trouser leg itself, and the same objective would be achieved of distributing the pressure on the back portions of the leg particularly over a wide area to avoid interference with circulation of the blood and discomfort.

Other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the front of a knee pad made according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the knee pad of FIG. 1 attached to the trouser leg of a wearer.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the back of a modified form of the invention with some parts shown in phantom.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a knee pad 1 having a rectangular body 2 and a border 3 therearound to which one end of elastic bands 4 are sewn. Clips 5 are attached to the other end of the elastic bands to grip a trouser leg 6 and hold the knee pad in place as shown in FIGURE 2.

The body 2 includes a block 8 of spongy resilient material such as foam rubber, carried by a holder 22 such as a pouch or enclosure. The holder may be made in a variety of ways and forms. One convenient way is to form an enclosure by overlaying the block 8 with a top sheet 9 of preferably heavy but pliable plastic material such as Nangahyde; the sheet may also be of leather, rubber, or other pliable but relatively heavy material. The top sheet 9 is sufliciently large to cover the front face 11 and each of the four sides 13 of the foam rubber block 8, leaving a margin forming the upper layer of the border 3. The bottom sheet 10 may be of similar material. It covers the rear face 12 of the block'8, and is sufficiently large to leave a margin beyond the edges of the block to form the lower layer of the border 3.

The two sheets 9 and 10 are sewn together at the line of juncture 14 to enclose the foam rubber block 8. The block 8 may if desired be bonded to the sheets 9 and 10 by a suitable adhesive, or may be bonded to only one of said sheets. The upper and lower layers of the border 3 may also if desired be bonded together by an adhesive or heat seal, rather than being sewn, or in addition to being sewn. It is obvious that a similar enclosure could be made by folding over a single sheet leaving appropriate margins to form the border, and sewing or bonding the edges together. The holder 22 may also consist of only one sheet, either the top sheet 9 or the bottom sheet 10, with the spongy resilient block 8 fixed or held thereon by bonding with a suitable adhesive, or by sewing with thread or cord, or by various known means of fixing a block of spongy resilient material toa sheet of plastic, leather, rubber, or other similar material.

The top sheet 9, or portion of the holder 22 that faces outward from the knee pad and which comes in contact with the floor or other kneeling surface, is preferably made from durable material such as Naugahyde, leather, rubber or other pliable but similarly heavy and durable material able to resist scuffing, abrasion, cutting, and tearing, in order to protect the less durable block of spongy resilient material. However, the bottom sheet 10 may be of a different less durable material, may be of cloth or fabric, or may be omitted entirely to save expense if the block 8 is bonded, sewn or otherwise affixed to the top sheet 9. The bottom sheet 10 may also be elastic, as may the top sheet 9.In the case where the holder 22 is made partially or wholly of elastic material such as rubber, the elastic bands 4 may be formed as integral projections of one or more of the elastic sheets from which such a carrier is made.

The spongy resilient block 8 may also if desired be affixed to the bottom sheet 10 without including the protective top sheet 9. However, the spongy resilient block 8 tends towear more quickly if it comes in direct contact with the fioor or other kneeling surface so inclusion of the top sheet 9 is preferable.

In cases where the holder 22 is a pouch, it may include a Zippered opening adapted to insert and remove the block 8 for replacement, repair, or other purpose.

It is understood that the body 2 and block 8 may,

be of shapes other than rectangular, including square, diamond, circular, oval, and so on. A rectangular or substantially rectangular shape is preferable, with the long side extending longitudinally of the wearers leg at relatively short distance above and a relatively greater distance below the knee,-even as far as the foot is desired. In this way, the lower portion of the leg as well as the knee is provided with a cushioning support and protection from objects such as scraps of iron, glass, nails and similar objects commonly found lying around construction and other work sites which otherwise would come in direct contact with the lower portion of the leg as well as the knee when in the kneeling position.

The fastening devices illustrated here are alligator type clips, having upper and lower jaws 15 and 16, hingedly attached at 18 with gripping teeth 17 and a coil spring 19 positioned to hold jaws 15 and 16 closed under appropriate tension in gripping relationship. The teeth may be covered by or formed of a plastic material to protect the cloth when attached to the trouser leg. It is understood that other types of known fasteners may also be employed to detachably grip the cloth of the trouser leg to hold the knee pad in place. A separate piece of cloth or other material may be wrapped around or partially around, the wearers leg for the purpose of attaching the clips thereto rather than to the trouser leg if desired.

The elastic bands 4 are short and when in retracted position hold the clips close to the perimeter of the knee pad 1 to avoid the unsightly appearance of loose hanging straps, and to facilitate quick attachment by the wearer without having to sort out long loose straps that may become entangled. The elastic bands may be attached to the knee pad in any conventional manner, such as sewing them to the border 3. They may be doubled over as shown in the drawings and designated 4a and 4b (FIG. 3). Two or more separate bands may also be used for each clip to impart additional strength if desired.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 4. The border 3 is omitted. Instead the elastic bands 4 are attached by sewing or other means to the inner surface of bottom sheet 10 at points 20 inward from the line of juncture 14 of sheets 9 and 10. The shortest distance between each point 20 and the line of juncture 14 is equal to (a) the retracted length of the elastic band 4 plus (b) the length of the fastening device 5. Therefore, in retracted position the elastic bands and fastening devices do not protrude beyond the line of juncture 14 but are withdrawn into recesses 21 formed in the spongy resilient block 8. When it is desired to withdraw the clips 5 for attachment of the knee pad to the trouser leg, the sides of the foam rubber block may be readily compressed sufiiciently to grasp the clips with the fingers for withdrawal and attach-- ment.

Three pairs of fastening devices are illustrated on the knee pad shown in the drawings. However, less than three pairs of fastening devices may be used in this in vention, and if desired more than three pairs may also be used.v

It is to be understood that the particular forms of the invention described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are preferred embodiments, and that various changes in the shape, size, materials, and arrangement of parts may be made. without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A knee pad serving as a cushioning and protective device, comprising a holder, at block of spongy resilient material carried by said holder, a plurality of fastening devices adapted for attachment to a trouser leg, elastic bands connecting said devices to said holder, said elastic bands extending laterally from said holder with an equal number of said bands extending from the opposite lengthwise edges of said holder and which in their retracted position draw said devices close to the perimeter of said holder but which are stretchable to permit attachment of said devices to a trouser leg at desired points remote from said holder adapted to resiliently urge and hold the said block of spongy resilient material in place against the leg and knee of a wearer.

2. A knee pad serving as a cushioning and protective device, comprising a holder, a block of spongy resilient material carried by said holder, fastening means adapted for attachment of said knee pad to a wearers leg, elastic bands connecting said fastening means to said holder, a first sheet and second sheet being joined to form said holder and to carry said block therebetween, said first sheet being of relatively durable material adapted for contact with a kneeling surface and to protect said block of spongy resilient material, said second sheet being of elastic material having said elastic bands formed integrally therewith and as stretchable projections therefrom.

3. A knee pad serving as a cushioning and protective device, comprising a block of spongy resilient material, fastening means adapted for attachment to a trouser leg,

connecting means for connecting saidfastening means to said block, at least one pair of diametrically opposed elastic bands being included in said connecting means, said pair of bands extending laterally of and being stretchable in opposite directions equal distances away from said block of spongy resilient material, each of said elastic bands being respectively connected to one of said fastening means, each of said bands in its retracted position adapted to draw said fastening means close to the perimeter of said block, said pair of elastic bands when stretched in opposed relation and equal distances away from said block for attachment of said fastening means to a trouser leg being adapted to resiliently urge said block against the leg and knee of a wearer and to hold said block in place.

4. A knee pad serving as a cushioning and protective device, comprising a block of spongy resilient material, fastening means adapted for attachment to a trouser leg, connecting means for connecting said fastening means to said block, at least two pairs of opposed elastic bands being included in said connecting means, said pairs of bands each extending laterally of said block, the bands in each respective pair being stretchable in opposite directions and equal distances away from said block of spongy resilient material, one of said pairs being positioned above the transverse mid-section of said block and the other of said pairs being positioned below the said transverse mid-section, each of said elastic bands being respectively connected to a one of said fastening means, said pairs of elastic bands being adapted to resiliently urge said block against the leg and knee of a wearer and 25 to hold said block in place when said fastening means have been attached to a trouser leg.

5. A knee pad serving as a cushioning and protective device, comprising a block of spongy resilient material, at least one recess formed in each of two opposite edges of said block, fastening means completely receivable Within said recesses, connecting means connecting said fastening means to said block adapted to elastically urge and retain said fastening means within said recesses, said fastening means being stretchably Withdrawable from said recesses and adapted for attachment of said knee pad to the leg of a wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,533 6/1908 Gibbs 224 1,378,870 5/1921 Kauffrnan 224 1,533,907 4/1925 Whipp 224 1,792,048 2/1931 Swenson 224 2,368,433 1/1945 Terry 224 2,561,872 7/1951 Krinick 224 2,626,394 1/1953 Davis 224 2,805,420 9/1957 Spellos 224 FOREIGN PATENTS 438,338 11/1935 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. PATRICK D. LAWSON, J. R. BOLER, Examiners. 

1. A KNEE PAD SERVING AS A CUSHIONING AND PROTECTIVE DEVICE, COMPRISING A HOLDER, A BLOCK OF SPONGY RESILIENT MATERIAL CARRIED BY SAID HOLDER, A PLURALITY OF FASTENING DEVICES ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A TROUSER LEG, ELASTIC BANDS CONNECTING SAID DEVICES TO SAID HOLDER, AND ELASTIC BANDS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID HOLDER WITH AN EQUAL NUMBER OF SAID BANDS EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE LENGTHWISE EDGES OF SAID HOLDER AND WHICH IN THEIR RETRACTED POSITION DRAW SAID DEVICES CLOSE TO THE PERIMETER OF SAID HOLDER BUT WHICH ARE STRETCHABLE TO PERMIT ATTACHMENT OF SAID DEVICES TO A TROUSER LEG AT DESIRED POINTS REMOTE FROM SAID HOLDER ADATPED TO RESILIENTLY URGE AND HOLD THE SAID BLOCK OF SPONGY RESILIENT MATERIAL IN PLACE AGAINST THE LEG AND KNEE OF A WEARER. 